At the recent Microsoft AI Tour held in Bengaluru, company CEO Satya Nadella announced a significant investment aimed at expanding the Azure infrastructure in India by $3 billion. The event highlighted Microsoft's commitment to transforming various industries, particularly healthcare and agriculture, through artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.
One of the key partnerships revealed during the tour was between Microsoft and AgriPilot.ai, an agritech startup based in Maharashtra. This collaboration focuses on enhancing farming decisions by providing science-backed insights, a move that aims to eliminate guesswork for farmers. AgriPilot.ai has been working closely with Microsoft Research for over five years, integrating cutting-edge AI, satellite imagery, and other technologies to revolutionise farming practices.
The startup is specifically targeting marginalised farmers, particularly those cultivating less than two acres of land. Prashant Mishra, founder of Click2cloud Inc., which hosts AgriPilot.ai, detailed the significant impact of their models, stating during an interaction with AIM that the organisation has performed experiments on over 250,000 hectares worldwide, cultivating crops such as sugarcane, strawberries, and dragon fruits. These initiatives have notably improved farmers' earnings.
AgriPilot.ai employs a 'no-touch' methodology, utilising satellite and drone imagery for remote data collection on farms. This innovative approach facilitates detailed crop management plans without the need for physical intervention. Nadella's meeting with the team at ADT Baramati, known for using AI tools to achieve sustainable harvests, further illustrates the positive ramifications of this collaboration.
Central to AgriPilot.ai's operations are Microsoft Azure Data Manager and FarmBeats, which offer precise, data-driven insights into factors such as soil health, water availability, and fertiliser usage. Additionally, the startup collaborates with Pratham to educate farmers on advanced technologies, creating employment opportunities for women through initiatives like AI-powered soil testing.
AgriPilot.ai’s reach extends beyond India, with experiments and programmes in countries including Qatar, Dubai, Peru, the USA, and Malaysia, underlining a global commitment to empowering farmers through data-driven agriculture. At the same time, other technology giants like Google are making notable advancements in the agritech sector, reflecting a growing interest and investment in technology-driven agricultural solutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services